Why, Why, Why? Please Tell Me Why!

Why? Short, simple question, but ultimately profound. Why this? Why that? Why? Why not?

Good things to ask, especially when embarking on the journey of preparing for surgery – or any other major life event for that matter.

But staying focused on surgery and healthCARE, as you go to doctors, they will inevitably give you opinions, recommendations and directions. Great. Listen and take notes, but also be sure to ask questions.

Question everything.

While doctors have been through special, even specialized, training, that doesn’t make them all the same or infallible. This is true about diagnosing and true about communciations. Some doctors are simply better than others. Asking questions is how you understand what is going on and get clear for yourself. It is your right and for your benefit.

So keep your power. Don’t give your power away by blindly doing what someone, a doctor, for example, says. Take responsibility for your experience and ask questions; learn why a doctor is making a certain recommendation. Find out why doing what doctors say is important and how it's going to impact your experience or recovery.

Remember, there are no small or stupid questions when it comes to your care, your health and your well-being. In the end, what matters is you and whether or not you feel comfortable and safe with a course of action. You should know everything about it, it's your body and your right.

  

Big and small "whys" can empower and enroll you.

Here are a few specific examples to get you thinking about questions and whys.

Be sure and tell your doctor everything (medicines, over-the-counter drugs, herbs, supplements and vitamins, even recreational drugs like marijuana, ecstasy, mushrooms, etc.) you’re taking before surgery. Okay, but why? 

Because it may be important to discontinue some medicines, herbs, supplements and vitamins prior to surgery. Things like over-the-counter aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, Alka-Seltzer^® products, Pepto-Bismol^®, the herb ginseng, vitamin E, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and/or other agents can cause bleeding problems or other complications during or after surgery. For an optimal, safe outcome it’s best to disclose everything and follow your doctors directions on their use prior to and following surgery.

Don’t eat or drink the night before surgery. Ok, but why is that really important? 

Because if there is any food or liquid in your stomach during surgery, anesthesia can cause nausea and vomiting, which can aspirate to the lungs and cause serious complications, or even death in extreme cases. Thus, to be as cautious as possible, don’t eat or drink anything 10 – 12 hours prior to any surgery, or as directed by your anesthesiologist.

Stop smoking. Okay, but why? 

In short, because it can cause complications, delay healing and interfere with the actions of certain drugs. The most common complications related to smoking are (1) delayed or impaired wound and tissue healing, (2) greater scarring, (3) wound infection, (4) cardiopulmonary complications (smokers are at greater risk for requiring the ventilator for longer periods of time), and (5) possible interference with the actions of certain drugs. Not smoking will allow lungs to work better and which will in turn cause blood flow to improve, which keeps circulation moving, which sweeps debris away from the incision site, helping you to heal more quickly.

Be sure and get extra sleep. Okay, why? 

Because, among other benefits, the restorative growth hormone required for healing the body is only released when you hit level 4 sleep. This is just one reason why it’s important to sleep, and sleep well, prior to and following surgery or any other kind of illness or trauma.

 

Keep asking why until you are completely satisfied.

 
Remember, ask your doctor why he/she is making certain recommendations. Often doctors fail to communicate why what they say or recommend is so important, especially about "routine" recommendations like "don't eat or drink the night before surgery." This may be an awesome recommendation, but for me, knowing the “why” behind the “what” is really important! Among other things, knowing why enrolls me in following through on a doctors recommendation(s). Following directions is easy, but if I know “why” I’m doing something and how it’s affecting or impacting me, then I’m more motivated and invested and likelier to do it.

How do I get my questions answered?

Read my upcoming book. :D And, do your homework. Use the library, bookstore and

Internet. Get a 2nd opinion (I think this is very important). Keep looking, researching and asking questions until you feel absolutely satisfied with the answer, until you feel "yes" in every cell in your body. 

Don’t take mine or anyone else's word on anything; get clear for yourself. Get clear and comfortable with the answer(s) for you and your body. After all, this process is all about you.